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CES 2006 From A Gamer's Perspective
Gamasutra has an article looking at what game companies had on show at this year's CES. From the article: "Microsoft's keynote was similarly dry in the games arena, with the only major announcement coming from Microsoft's interactive entertainment vice president Peter Moore revealing that an add-on device capable of playing HD-DVD movies - and only movies, he'd later clarify, not games - will eventually be released for the Xbox 360. HD-DVD is, of course, the only major competitor against Sony's Blu-Ray for the next generation of high-definition media. Moore also revealed new shipping estimates for the Xbox 360, stating that between 4.5 and 5.5 million units will be shipped by the end of June of 2006, aided in no small part by the creation of a third manufacturing plant."
Well I'm certainly glad to hear that there is another plant making Xbox 360s. I usually wait a few months before buying next gen hardware, but even for me the prospect of having a difficult time finding a 360 was becoming annoying. The other news of some, rather morbid, interest is the fate of Gizmondo. This just seems to be a device that's all dressed up with no place to go. The GPS capability certainly has interesting possibilities, especially with the added risk of mortality in this time of heightened security. But with the handheld market already crowded by the likes of Nintendo and Sony, there's little room for anyone else unless they are able to bleed some serious cash.
To the making of books there is no end, so let's get started
An interesting tidbit from the article:
Commodore, now under new ownership, showed a prototype GPS device that, as a bonus, comes pre-packaged with a Nintendo Entertainment System emulator.
Do you really need to know where you are when you're playing NES roms on the road? No matter what, it's nerdsville.
On a more serious note, I've gotta wonder what the battery life on that thing is when you're playing.
Too bad they didn't get the other plant fitted before the dismal Holiday Season launch. May have missed a lot of possible hype sales because of the lack of availability. That being said, if a premium box does become available around the time my Tax return comes back, I'll probably buy one. Barring that there aren't a lot more product failure reports and such. The problems that are out there now (rumored or not) got me kind of iffy and tempted to just wait out till all 3 consoles are out. Pick a definate winner and pick the other 2 up after a few price drops and decent must have games come out for them.
And fuck anyone who mentions Ebay. I am not interested in supporting scalping and artificial creation of demand by money grubbing mongrals who buy up every system in the store to resell. I hope MS can push the manufacturing up enough that these bastards get stuck with an ass-load of systems they can't sell for more than the MRSP.
"If I were bound by all laws everywhere I'm sure I would have committed a capital crime somewhere."
They missed the poor man's Revolution controller featured at CES 2006.
"with the only major announcement coming from Microsoft's interactive entertainment vice president Peter Moore"
So awesome.
It's the same estimate they've been repeating since the console was launched: http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9968123/from/RL.5/